Do you think this gym is a good idea? Why or why not? I personally think its a good idea. It a self esteem killer to go to a gym *hence the reason I have never gone* to see girls sizes 2 and 3 on the treadmill like the actually NEED to exercise and men built like Usher. Although they could have once before been overweight like me and they are striving to stay small.

So what do you think ladies? If one were in your area would you go to it?

I think it is definitely an interesting idea. I go to my college's gym since it's free to students and it can be very discouraging when I'm trying to run or lift next to an 18 year old group of girls that look over at me with a snicker because they are running faster, lifting more, etc. I can imagine it can be extremely daunting for someone who is obese and new to working out. I do wonder though if they make them sign some type of contract that says once they reach a goal weight (possibly the weight that makes them no longer in the obese category) they have to leave and go to another gym. Hmmmm......

I must say though your comment, "to see girls sizes 2 and 3 on the treadmill like the actually NEED to exercise" bothers me. I have always been a thin woman, being fit has NOTHING to do with your weight. Yes, I excercise to keep a certain figure but most importantly I have worked out to maintain strength and endurance. Just being a size 2 is pointless if you can't pick up a box, or be able to run around and keep up with your kid. I have had people that were larger than me give me hell that I don't need to work out because I'm naturally skinny and that gets under my skin so badly.

I'm about to join a local gym. I need to get tone. I already run but that's not helping my big gutt nor my thick thighs. Once I get tone I'm sticking to running. I also need to cut down on the sweets I eat, too.

I think most join a gym like I do - to stay fit and stay healthy. A prerequisite to me in being fat to join makes sense. Sometimes it's even hard for me to see some size 6 toned chick in front of me working out. I know life's not fair, but I'd rather see the entire room full of people that look just like I do, LOL!

Hmmmm. I don't know. 18 months ago I was over 50 lbs overweight (and what weight do they take for normal weight? My "normal range" is between 110 and 135 lbs. So far I've lost 50 lbs and have another 20-25 lbs to get to the weight I want to be at. Would they kick me out of the gym once I got to a certain weight? When I used to go to a gym it was also a socialization thing so you'd think the incentive to get below 50 lbs overweight might not be there, especially for those who have little social interaction because of their weight.

And some of those size 2 girls need to work out to stay that size. I was once a size 2/4 but I had to work out everyday to keep that body.

Quoting MissTuree:

I think it is definitely an interesting idea. I go to my college's gym since it's free to students and it can be very discouraging when I'm trying to run or lift next to an 18 year old group of girls that look over at me with a snicker because they are running faster, lifting more, etc. I can imagine it can be extremely daunting for someone who is obese and new to working out. I do wonder though if they make them sign some type of contract that says once they reach a goal weight (possibly the weight that makes them no longer in the obese category) they have to leave and go to another gym. Hmmmm......

I must say though your comment, "to see girls sizes 2 and 3 on the treadmill like the actually NEED to exercise" bothers me. I have always been a thin woman, being fit has NOTHING to do with your weight. Yes, I excercise to keep a certain figure but most importantly I have worked out to maintain strength and endurance. Just being a size 2 is pointless if you can't pick up a box, or be able to run around and keep up with your kid. I have had people that were larger than me give me hell that I don't need to work out because I'm naturally skinny and that gets under my skin so badly.